ACR Meeting Abstracts

ACR Meeting Abstracts

Abstract Number: 0151

Post-COVID Decline in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Mortality in the United States: A National Analysis from 2014 to 2023

Ghassan Makhoul1, Aziz-ur-Rahman Khalid2, Islam Rajab1, Hasan Munshi1, Emmanuel Olumuyide3, MD Walid Akram Hussain1, Aqsa Sorathia1, Reshma John1, Ahmed Huzien1, ivan Mercado1, Nargis Mateen4 and Robert Lahita2, 1St. Josephs University Medical Center, Paterson, 2St. Josephs University Medical Center, Wayne, NJ, 3Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, Chicago, 4St. Josephs University Medical Center, Paterson, NJ

Meeting: ACR Convergence 2025

Keywords: , , , ,

Session Information

Date: Sunday, October 26, 2025

Title: (0145–0174) Epidemiology & Public Health Poster I

Session Type: Poster Session A

Session Time: 10:30AM-12:30PM

Background/Purpose: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic multisystem autoimmune disease with high morbidity and mortality. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on SLE-related deaths in the United States has not been comprehensively evaluated.

Methods: : We analyzed national mortality data from the CDC WONDER database for all deaths attributed to SLE (ICD-10 code M32) from 2014 to 2023. Data were stratified by sex, race/ethnicity, age group, state, urbanization level, and place of death. We defined two periods for analysis: pre-COVID (2014–2018) and post-COVID (2019–2023), and compared age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs) between periods.

Results: A total of 11,150 SLE-related deaths occurred, with 5,889 pre-COVID and 5,261 post-COVID. The national AAMR declined from 0.3496 to 0.2828 per 100,000, a 19.1% reduction. Women comprised over 85% of deaths, with AAMRs decreasing from 0.5399 to 0.4629. Male AAMRs remained lower (0.0981 to 0.0936). By race, Black individuals consistently had the highest AAMRs (0.9245 to 0.7649), followed by Hispanic (0.3820 to 0.3019), American Indian/Alaska Native (0.3846 to 0.2638), Asian (0.2632 to 0.1906), and White individuals (0.2323 to 0.2103). Mortality rates increased with age, peaking at 1.10 per 100,000 among those ≥85. Home deaths increased from 25.2% to 31.3%, while inpatient deaths declined from 49.9% to 43.3%. The highest AAMRs were observed in Mississippi and Louisiana; the lowest were in Washington and Massachusetts.

Conclusion: SLE mortality declined in the post-COVID era, with persistent disparities by sex and race. The shift in place of death suggests changes in healthcare access and utilization. These findings underscore the need for targeted, equitable strategies to improve lupus outcomes across populations.

Supporting image 1Graphs showing differences in pre vs post COVID state, urbanization, gender, race and place of death Lupus Mortality

Disclosures: G. Makhoul: None; A. Khalid: None; I. Rajab: None; H. Munshi: None; E. Olumuyide: None; M. Hussain: None; A. Sorathia: None; R. John: None; A. Huzien: None; i. Mercado: None; N. Mateen: None; R. Lahita: None.

To cite this abstract in AMA style:

Makhoul G, Khalid A, Rajab I, Munshi H, Olumuyide E, Hussain M, Sorathia A, John R, Huzien A, Mercado i, Mateen N, Lahita R. Post-COVID Decline in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Mortality in the United States: A National Analysis from 2014 to 2023 [abstract]. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2025; 77 (suppl 9). https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/post-covid-decline-in-systemic-lupus-erythematosus-mortality-in-the-united-states-a-national-analysis-from-2014-to-2023/. Accessed .

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ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/post-covid-decline-in-systemic-lupus-erythematosus-mortality-in-the-united-states-a-national-analysis-from-2014-to-2023/